The World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday expressed regret over the order of US President Donald Trump, which begins the process of the United States’ withdrawal from this global organization. The European Commission (EC) also expressed concern over the decisionreports TASR according to AFP and DPA agencies.
“The World Health Organization regrets the announcement that the United States intends to withdraw from the organization,” the WHO said in a statement. During his first day in office on Monday, Trump made good on his campaign promise to do everything possible to end US membership in the Geneva-based United Nations (UN) health agency.
However, Trump’s decision does not have immediate effect. His administration must also inform UN Secretary General António Guterres in writing about the withdrawal. It will then take a year for it to take effect.
“WHO plays a critical role in protecting the health and safety of people around the world, including Americans, by addressing the root causes of disease, builds stronger health systems and detects, prevents and responds to health emergencies, including disease outbreaks, often in dangerous places where others cannot reach,” the statement continued.
The European Commission also warned that Trump’s decision could weaken the response to future pandemics. “If we want to be resilient against global health threats, we need global cooperation,” said EC spokeswoman Eva Hrnčířová. “We believe that the American administration will consider all this before the official withdrawal.”
The US is by far the largest contributor to the WHO. In 2023, their share of the budget was 18 percent. The organization will analyze what a U.S. withdrawal would mean for its programs, it said, adding that it was too early to provide details.
Trump’s anger at the global organization dates back to the COVID-19 pandemic. During his first term, he tried to get the US out of the organization. However, Joe Biden became president before the one-year term expired and repealed Trump’s order. Trump accuses the WHO of misuse of funds and bad handling of the pandemic, writes DPA.
A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Tuesday that Beijing was “concerned” by Trump’s order, while German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach called it a blow to the international fight against global health crises.
